Australia’s oldest family-owned winery, Yalumba, is celebrating its 175th anniversary, reflecting on an unmatched history and role in the country’s wine industry.
Robert Hill-Smith, fifth-generation owner and chair said the anniversary was not only a nod to years passed.
“It is a reflection of our resilience and a commitment to mastering our craft, generation after generation. It also acknowledges the many exceptional fine wine people that have come through the gates of Yalumba across three centuries with shared love for our property, our wines, and our industry.
“Most of all, it is a celebration of an exciting future ahead for our family business and the world of Australian fine wine. While we celebrate our past 175 years, we keep our eyes firmly set on the next 175 as the generations before us have done,” Hill-Smith said.
Yalumba began in 1849, when Samuel Smith planted the first vine under moonlight with his son, Sidney. It has stayed within the family and looks set to do so into the future, with sixth generation family members Jessica and Lucy Hill-Smith in the business.
Yalumba’s 175th year has been punctuated by wine releases and celebrations, bringing together trading partners and wine lovers from around the world.
Earlier in the year, Yalumba debuted a Museum Collection featuring a limited selection of the great vintages of its finest wines, aged up to 20 years. This collection pays homage to Yalumba’s winemaking legacy, representing over a century of vision and craft.
Yalumba has also released a magnum limited-edition anniversary wine, a Shiraz Grenache blend, that reflects the character and heritage of Yalumba and Barossa. The grapes are sourced from some of Barossa’s oldest vineyards ranging in age from 1854 to 1920.
This month, the winery’s team gathered at Yalumba’s Signature Vineyard for a symbolic tree-planting morning.
Yalumba winemaker and head of Sustainability, Louisa Rose, said the planting reflected the anniversary as well as the winery’s commitment to environmental stewardship.
“Today has been a meaningful experience for our team to actively contribute to a more sustainable future. Our group brings together diverse skills and roles, and it’s special for each of them to give back to the land, especially those not typically involved in our daily viticultural work.
“Our Signature Vineyard, with its view over the Barossa Valley, is still relatively young and planted with Cabernet and Shiraz. We prioritise planting native vegetation around all our vineyards to support biodiversity and enhance vine health.
This vineyard is set to play a pivotal role in our future, providing grapes for our most renowned wine, Yalumba The Signature,” Rose said.
The Yalumba 175th Anniversary Shiraz Grenache 2022 magnums are RRP $175, available at the Yalumba Wine Room and through its website.
